Present school programs place considerable reliance on the results of standardized language tests both as placement and diagnostic devices, yet the validity of these tests is open to question. Certain questions arise in light of current theory and research. To what extent are currently available measuring techniques useful for identifying the…

This paper discusses in a general way the decline of use of the Romanian language among second and third-generation Romanian-Americans, and then it points to the state of the study of English as a foreign language in the Romanian Socialist Republic today. A brief review of the influence of British English in Romania is followed by: (1) a more…

The British Columbia French Speaking Test, administered to grade 3 immersion students, measured their speaking skills through a story- retelling and group discussion task. When 110 immersion children were compared to 25 Francophone children, results indicated that the immersion children were comparable to the francophones in communicative skills…

Although English will continue to spread, its functions intra-nationally will be reduced and its major role will be that of an international language. This development will influence English language teaching syllabi and material design, creating new demands on language teachers and their preparation programs. (Author/CB)

Describes an attempt made at the University of Reading to support or discount claims made about the pedagogic value of communication games. Some evidence was found in support of games' roles in encouraging students to practice language skills. (Author/CB)

The successful incorporation of computer-assisted language learning into the college-level foreign language curriculum is a much-needed improvement over language laboratories. Foreign language departments have developed software packages for the Macintosh microcomputer involving language pattern drills and language error-analysis. (CB)

Purpose: This paper will: (1) review the validity of the Graduate Record Examination for predicting international students' Graduate Grade Point Average (GGPA); and (2) inspect possible social, cultural and language bias or learning style differences in the prediction of international students' performance from Graduate Record Examination (GRE)…

The set of materials are designed for the assessment of literacy, English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL), listening and reading comprehension, and/or job-related skills of factory workers, and are based on work-related tasks. The materials consist of instructions for administering the test, a picture prompt booklet for the test administrator to use…

To determine relative levels of motivation in learning English as a Second Language, 40 freshman and sophomores at 2 national universities in mainland China and Japan responded to a 40-point attitudinal questionnaire and 6-point followup motivational intensity scale. Data on student language proficiency were also gathered. While a solid majority…

The educational edifice constructed largely by non-Indians to educate American Indians is described, and the responses of American Indians to that structure are explored. Indian movements to design and control the education of their own children are discussed. A review of contemporary research on Indian education covers the topical literature on…

This pamphlet is intended to help educators understand the fundamentals of what the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) Title III means for their educational programs and curricula to help all limited English proficient (LEP) students and immigrant children and youth succeed in learning English and meeting the same challenging state academic content…

The development of the Stanford Foreign Language Oral Skills Evaluation Matrix (FLOSEM), a rating scale for assessing communicative proficiency in foreign languages, is described. Information on the utility of the FLOSEM is presented based on the results of three studies. Oral proficiency measures were obtained by means of the FLOSEM from 573 high…

Research indicated that English language proficiency may influence student performance, and that standardized assessments may be biased against students who have limited English proficiency (LEP). This study investigated the influence of language on student performance differences in reading and mathematics. The content area of reading was…

This book is designed to help Peace Corps Volunteers figure out how they learn best and how they can capitalize on this to learn a new language. It teaches volunteers to identify and reflect on their learning style, attitudes, and motivation; organize their learning; and experiment with various strategies and tools for learning a language on their…

Methods used to rectify imbalances in student proficiency levels within and between courses are described. One year after changes were made in promotion and placement procedures, examination development, and course and program objectives, course enrollment patterns improved, and there was evidence of improved student achievement in higher level…